American Idol: Why Chris Daughtry Is Not A Copycat

Two weeks ago, Chris Daughtry stated that he wasn’t too familiar with Stevie Wonder’s catalogue. But when he saw it contained a song called “Higher Ground,” he remembered that the Red Hot Chili Peppers had done a version of the song and immediately decided to sing it. The judges praised Chris for being original and his performance was regarded as one of the best of the night (and it was).

The controversy came when message boards and blogs went a buzz about how it was unfair for Chris to be able to simply sing the Chili Peppers’ arrangement of the song (which was obviously a more rock arrangement — different from Stevie’s original soul/R&B arrangement) and get praised. Not just praised for a great performance — but for being original. This wasn’t that big a deal however, considering that Chris mentioned the fact that he was singing the Chili Peppers’ version in his pre-performance interview, so it was no surprise that they sounded quite similar.

So last week, when the contestants heard the theme was music from the 50s, sexy alterna-rocker Chris picked Johnny Cash’s hit song “I Walk The Line.” It’s a pretty prominent song in the country community, but most of us know the song because of the Academy Award nominated hit film of a similar name. This is why it was so great to hear Chris sing the song — it didn’t sound anything like the original. And it was great.

The judges, including the most important and influential Simon Cowell, once again praised Chris for his originality and for being uncompromising. But after hearing Chris’ performance, many music savvy viewers thought to themselves, “That sounded kind of familiar.” And in a way they were right. The band Live (notable but not terribly popular) had recorded a cover of “I Walk The Line” about two years ago and Chris’ arrangement was pretty much the same. The difference was, Chris sang it five times better.

One important mystery is whether the anger over this incident will show in the votes come Tuesday night, and whether Ryan, the judges, or Chris himself will address this issue on air in the same way they did for Katharine McPhee’s pregnancy rumors.

I’m a bit confused, actually, because I don’t understand why there has been such a negative backlash against poor Chris because of this. Especially since it’s not really the fact that he sang Live’s arrangement of “I Walk The Line,” but the fact that he was so widely praised for his “originality” which, if you think about it, is not Chris’ fault, it’s the judges’.

Secondly, Chris’ version was better than Live’s, so why exactly does it matter? Which brings me to another point.

In the first season of American Idol, you might remember a fiery contestant with golden pipes named Tamyra Gray. During Burt Bacharach week, she chose to sing “A House Is Not A Home,” but the problem was that she was only familiar with the Luther Vandross version. Burt insisted she sing the song as he originally wrote it. So Tamyra re-learned the song, and she nailed it. It was incredible. All the judges loved it, and it was probably one of the best performances in American Idol history. Simon Cowell called it the best performance he’d ever seen on television. But my question to you is, would Tamyra have been considered a “copycat” had she sang Luther’s arrangement of the song and still did so well? And if so, why? Another question is, if she would have been called a copycat, why is she not a copycat for singing Burt’s version? What is the difference?

The reality is contestants on American Idol are not singing their own material. They are all singing other people’s songs. And there are lots of songs sung on Idol that have been covered so many times, most of us don’t even know who the original artists are.

So why, then, is Chris Daughtry being punished by bloggers, magazines, and newspapers for simply picking a version of the song that best fit his style of singing, doing it damn well, and, in my opinion, better than the original artist (Live, not Cash)? Especially when the biggest question surrounding the controversy is whether Chris credited Live in his pre-performance interview. For all we know, during a however long interview that was edited to be 15 seconds, he may have. Considering the fact that he mentioned the Chili Peppers the week before, odds are he did.

And as sexily devilish as he looks in that picture at the top of the page, I highly doubt family man Chris Daughtry maliciously intended to “steal” anyone’s creativity and claim it as his own. So why, you ask, has it turned into such a hot topic? The conclusion I’ve come to is that he’s the frontrunner on the hottest show on television and probably in history and there wasn’t much else to write about. Jessica Simpson wasn’t seen leaving a coffee shop with any strange men and Brad and Angelina weren’t spotted in any airports. My response? Grow up, America. Grow up.

Just a correction: Clay Aiken sang the original song “This Is The Night” on the final 2 show of season 2. The song, when released as a single a few weeks later, topped the Billboard chart for 2 weeks running and sold a million copies. Hardly what I’d call “falling flat on its face.” If you want us to cut Chris some slack maybe you shouldn’t hack on other contestants.

Dusty

This article should be retitled “Chris Daughtry Is A Copycat, And I Hate People For Pointing That Out.” The author concedes that neither arrangement was a Daughtry original and then proceeds to attack anyone who dares mention this fact as criticism.

Is it America that needs to grow up?

Vicki

I’m not sure what song you are referring to when you said that Clay Aiken sang an original song and fell flat on his face. The ONLY original song he sang was on finale night and that was “This is the Night”. “This is the Night” IS on his Measure of a Man album. It was also released as a single which went on to sell over a million copies and went platinum.

Rich

Here’s the thing. Yes, all contestants sing cover songs; that’s the premise of the entire show. However, it isn’t so much that Chris himself is a “copycat”. The problem here is that this portion of the show is where the contestants need to show America just how much they can do stylistically.
On a night where the band is playing Stevie Wonder songs in the STYLE and GENRE in which Stevie wrote/sang them, the contestants are forced to mold themselves into the style and STILL sound like themselves. That is the challenge.
Chris unfairly spun the night to his advantage. Of course his performance stood out that night; he sang in a style 30 years younger than the other 11 contestants!!

Unfair? Absolutely. Smart? Perhaps.

Rich

Here’s the thing. Yes, all contestants sing cover songs; that’s the premise of the entire show. However, it isn’t so much that Chris himself is a “copycat”. The problem here is that this portion of the show is where the contestants need to show America just how much they can do stylistically.

What do I mean?

On a night where the band is playing Stevie Wonder songs in the STYLE and GENRE in which Stevie wrote/sang them, the contestants are forced to mold themselves into the style without molding themselves into the original singer. That is the challenge.
Chris unfairly spun the night to his advantage. Of course his performance stood out that night; he sang in a style 30 years younger than the other 11 songs that night!!

Unfair? Absolutely. Smart? Perhaps.

Maureen

I also think Chris did a great job and is not a copycat.

Regarding your comment on Clay Aiken: I do have to ask you, what the heck song of Clay’s do you think did not make the album? His only original song was “This Is The Night” and it certainly soared. Every song Clay sang on the show was a show stopper.
No song Clay has ever sung has fallen flat on its face.

anon

It’s not about “copying.” It is about giving credit where it is due. He did not…not even after the judges said you made it your own. Pretty risky of you to assume that it was edited out. And if it was, don’t you think that the edit would be a known fact by now…someone would have since bailed him out.

Lynn

Yes Chris, like everyone is singing other peoople’s songs, but he is being credited and extoled for not being a mimic, when in reality he still is a mimic, but he is just copying the copy and not the original and not always giving credit where credit is due. When the judges lauded him for his creativity and being original he just stood there and took credit for Live’s arrangement of Walk the Line, that is the problem.

Clay Aiken sang AN original song, he did not write it, but it certainly didn’t fall flat on it’s face becoming the first single in many, many years to sell a million copies and be certified platinum.

Kate

I lost total respect for Chris standing there allowing all three judges to praise him for his original arrangement, even Paula telling him he put his own spin on a song they all knew and made it brand new. That part of the show was broadcast live and he NEVER gave credit to LIVE for using THEIR arrangement.

Besides this the other problem I have with Chris is that he works AROUND the weekly themes. Other contestants are forced to prove their versatility, while Chris sings the same each week.

black rob

Going back to the Chili Pepper’s version it makes me wonder if anyone who says it sounds like Chris Daughtry’s version has actually heard it. The Chili Pepper’s version was undeniably FUNKY much more then it was rock… there was tons of funky bass guitar in it and Keidus sang it in a funky twang.. not a rocker voice.

It makes it hard to take anyone here’s argument seriously when they don’t know what they are talking about.

Kate

Oops forgot-Clay Aiken’s TITN was a record breaking single with sales only second to Elton John’s tribute to Princess Diana- Candle in the Wind. It hardly fell flat on it’s face – no commercial single has sold even close to it since then abd it was in fact on his first album.

Judy

The only thing Chris did was not state he has performed the version he did for a year now, and that it was first performed that way by Live. Chris may sound thirty years younger than the others, but he still sounds from like he is from the 80’s or 90’s, but he is the chosen one this year, so whatever. He is okay. American Idol is a good show this year! Much better than the last two,IMO.

BTW, you are mistaken about Clay writing a song and performing it on American Idol. Surely you are not speaking of This Is The Night. It won the Billboard and American Music Award for the best selling single of the year. It was also on his CD.

anthony

What I find funny is that people are looking for integrity from AMERICAN IDOL! Does anyone find the hilarious irony in this? IT IS AMERICAN IDOL!!! What do you people expect? Surely you cannot name a majority of teeny pop singers who have this feature can you?

http://chantalstone.blogspot.com chantal stone

i don’t see what the problem is with Chris showing off his unique style. each of the AI contestants are different, and no matter what they sing, they are going to preform their own special way. i understand the need to show versatility, but its possible to do so within ones own personal style.

no matter what Paris Bennet sings, she’s always going to sound like a 40 yr old gospel diva, no matter what Kellie Pickler sings, she’s always going to sing it with her own country-bumpkin flair, Taylor Hicks will always sound like a Michael McDonald impersonator, no matter the song choice.

so if Chris adds his alternative hot-boi rocker flair to each performance, no matter the song choice, don’t hate him, LOVE him….he deserves it.

http://www.taylorhicksblues.blogspot.com Jewels

I agree with Kate #9, and some of the others. Chris completely “karaoked” ‘Live’ and gave that band no credit whatsoever. Not in the post-performance clip, not after he sang it. What really establishes that he is ‘the chosen one’ this year is how the judges seem to be as clueless as Kelly-what’s-a-Ballsy-Pickler when it comes to the comments they make regarding his (not)original takes on the songs he is performing. In a recent interview on MSNBC, which I missed because I don’t watch it, but was published by the Gray-Haired Dude Simon C. says to Rita Cosby:

Rita: “Who do you think will win? What’s your prediction on who’s gonna win? Who’s gonna take it all?”

Simon: “I have a horrible feeling the public is going to vote for Taylor, and I’d prefer Chris.”

Check it out.

axel

chris is the best contestant of american idol.. pple who bash chris is because they have other favorites and they try so bad to put this guy down. who cares if it was A LIVE COVER UH? chris has a lot of talent, stage presence and a band called absent element, just hear the songs of his band and you will see he is outstanding! sorry folks but he is gonna win for sure he deserves it!

Rich

Quote by Kate:
“… the other problem I have with Chris is that he works AROUND the weekly themes. Other contestants are forced to prove their versatility, while Chris sings the same each week.”

HI-5!!!! That’s exactly what I mean, as well.

Evan

Chris did a bang up job last Tuesday and it certainly wowed me, until I heard that it was a cover of a cover without attribution. That is dishonest. I don’t blame Chris however, but the show in that they misled the public.

Maybe the Clay Aiken song you’re thinking of was Here There and Everywhere, which is a Paul McCartney original that he sung on the Final 2. While Clay did a great job with the song vocally, the song itself is a dud (sorry Beatles fans) and the lighting/staging was horrible.

Rene

That fact of the matter remains is that AI, and I don’t know if it was intentional or unintentional, but they did make it look like it was Chris’ take on the song and it clearly is not. I too was disappointed when I found out he was doing a cover of a cover.

Clay Aiken needs to come out of the closet or deny the rumors that are circulating about his homosexuality. He also fell flat on his has with Vincent. He fogot the lyrics if memory serves.

Ty

“Besides this the other problem I have with Chris is that he works AROUND the weekly themes. Other contestants are forced to prove their versatility, while Chris sings the same each week.”

This is my issue….and I think that Randy and Simon (At least Randy) knows that Live did cover the song and that Chris was doing Live’s Arrangement, but didn’t say anything because they want Chris to go far.

After you find out it was not some original twist on the song, you wonder, “damn, Chris is pulling out ALL stops to avoid the themes of the week.” That is troublesome, just like when Fantasia did country week without a twang and made it sound totally r&b in AI3. Same problem, and unfortunately, probably same result (Chris will probably win like Fantasia).

At least this week is Songs of the 21st century. No need for Chris to do a cover, but pretend it’s original.

Ty

“He also fell flat on his has with Vincent. He fogot the lyrics if memory serves.”

That is because the producers made him sing a totally different arrangement 20 MINUTES BEFORE GOING LIVE! Of course he was going to slip up. The producers did not want a gay American Idol, so they sabotaged him. This has been well reported (about the arrangement change not of his choice 20 minutes before the show went live)

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Uhh…you all might want to check your album booklets again, because Clay Aiken DID NOT write “This Is The Night” It was written by Aldo Nova, Gary Burr, and Chris Braide.

However, upon further research I realized that I was mistaken, and Clay did not sing an original song on the show. I’m not sure why I had a memory of Ryan saying it was a song that he had written himself–maybe he did the arrangement or something–but I was wrong about that–and will edit the article to reflect it.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

I don’t understand how you figure making the song fit your style is somehow avoiding the themes. I’m pretty sure if Steven Tyler were to sing “Superstition” it would sound rock.

People tried to say the same thing with Carrie Underwood last year–it really just isn’t a valid argument.

Ty

“I don’t understand how you figure making the song fit your style is somehow avoiding the themes.”

Well, let’s see, 50’s week. Look at McPhee. She sang it in 50’s “style.” She could have sang it in a modern way, but that wasn’t the theme in the week. It was 50’s week.

With Chris, he never sang it in 50’s style. It never ONCE crossed his mind to simply sing I Walk The Line in its original arrangement (but with a hint of Chris flavor). Instead he knew Live covered it, making it sound like a modern song, and voila, he avoids 50’s week.

Now this week is Songs of the 21st Century. Tell me how Chris is going to sound ANY different than the last two weeks, although the themes are different. I bet you can’t, and therein lies the problem. You should sound a little different considering the vastly different themes of each week, but Chris does not. Not one bit.

I personally WANTED to see how he would sound singing a 50’s song in its original arrangement. I personally WANTED to see how he would sound singing a Stevie Wonder song in its original arrangement.

Sadly we will never even get to see if he has any versatility.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

The difference is, not EVERY contestant knows exactly who they are stylistically, and they don’t have to. Chris is one that does. So did Bo, so did Carrie, so did Ruben, so did others. Why would a singer like Chris sing “I Walk The Line” the way Johnny Cash did–he’s not Johnny Cash and he’s not a country singer.

Brandy

IMO, the problem with Chris’s performance was that it was implied during his talking-with-Barry clip and elsewhere that Chris was actually responsible for the arrangement – as in, he’d come up with it himself, or at least had helped arrange it. Not that he had simply found an arrangement from someone else that he liked and lifted it note for note. When he did that with the RHCP, he acknowledged the fact, and it was clear that he hadn’t arranged it himself.

I personally think that he probably gave Live credit during his interview, but it was cut by the editors who didn’t see it as that important. He seems like he has too much integrity to not give credit where it is due. He’s far from my favorite on the show, but it is too bad that he’s being blamed for something that was probably a producer or editor’s fault.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

On Deanna Daughtry’s MySpace page (Chris’ Wife), she said this:

“Chris told me that he did say in the pre-show interview that he was doing a version of walk the line that was done by his favorite band (that band is Live). That part of the interview was edited by AI and has made people question my husbands integrity. He would never take credit for another musicians work.

Reading some of the things people have said about Chris is so sad. If they knew Chris they would feel like crap for ever saying anything negative about him as a person. He is one of the good ones in this world and he does not deserve this attack. He did nothing wrong! The only good thing that has happened is that Live has sold more albums from it.

I never thought that it would be like this. People pretending to know us or be us and giving false info, strangers coming to the door, tabloids looking for a story, people coming out of the woodwork. We believed in people more then we should have I guess. I have never wanted to let life harden me and I don’t want that to happen to Chris or my children. I am bracing my self for what may come next.

I want to thank everyone who has stood up for us and supported us.

Deanna”

Ty

“Why would a singer like Chris sing “I Walk The Line” the way Johnny Cash did–he’s not Johnny Cash and he’s not a country singer.”

BECAUSE THE THEME IS 50’S WEEK, NOT THIS WEEK’S THEME OF SONGS OF THE 21ST CENTURY! How difficult is this a concept to understand??????

Bucky is not Snoop Doog, and he’s not a rap singer, but I bet he would get more of an effort to pull it off than Chris does with the songs he chooses that represent the THEMES are forced upon the contestants.

Ty

Brandy: Who is your favorite? Hopefully not Paris or Mandisa, they need to go…now (well, Lisa Tucker can go first, then Paris, then Mandisa).

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Your argument just doesn’t make any sense. Many singers have their own personal style, and it’s faulty logic to say that they need to “conform” to the theme and sing it like the theme suggests. And I already gave you examples of singers that prove my point.

Ty

I believe Chris and Deanna. Thus I believe the judges and producers knew, but wanted to hide it because they want Chris to win. That’s not Chris’ fault, I agree.

But two straight weeks he spit in the face of the theme and I think that is the big reason there is an uproar, not because he attempted to give credit but AI cut it out, or that he didn’t correct the judges when they said he was original (although it would have made him look good to say post-perf, “I was inspired by Live’s cover, but thanks for the comments.”

But again, spitting in the face of the themes like no other contestant has is pathetic.

Alex

The core of the issue is not credited LIVE. Band knows which version they are modyfying slightly. And AI producers also knows it. And even simon knows it.

Chris is not leading. All the bettors listen to simon. Check dialidol from the beginning it is Taylor has mass support. May be whole america except head bangers.

The fact is he is getting credit shamelessly regardless of whether he gives credit to LIVE or not.

People got angry on Stevie wonder week even though he credited RHCP. The reality is though he sange exact replica of LIVE and RHCP rendition.

Have you lietsend to LIVE version. LIVE was 1000% better. You have serious hearing problem. Chris is a one note creamer , who screams in Hight note.
I will kick him out of this AI. Chris even failed in ROCKSTAR:INXS audition. Go figure.

Most people issue is, he is getting credit for something he does n’t deserve for 2 weeks in a row. Even though chris is not at fault as much as AI producers and simon pimping him and wanting him to win. American people do not like to be cheated. SImon and AI producers are trying to tell what america should like. They are angry at AI and producers. The anger is turning towards Chris.

What he got is bad popularity.

He could have stopped it that he did based on live version when he talked to ryan and standing infront of judges with his mouth in mute.

What a scoundrel.

You may say if you don’t like it , swithc off the TV. The problem is not whether you like or dislike. It is about honesty and fair play.

I don’t care who wins as long as they win by talent not over praising a one note wonder and try to manipulate the votes.

More people will lash out at chris in every chance they get. He can either follow theme night as everyone or leave the show.

He try to insult the audience by doing rock. If AI rename it a ROCKSHOW then i know what i expect from it.

if chris follows theme , judges can judge him on singing and not screaming and also audience can see the subtle difference in cntestants.

Chris is making it a AI as ROCKSTAR and running away with it.

As long as simon praises Chris people get angry at chris. The only fault in chris is he does n’t follow AI rules of theme night. I think he should quit. But again that is where the reality strikes. He is a low life fraud who wants to win at any cost!.

http://chantalstone.blogspot.com chantal stone

Ty….who is YOUR favorite?

Ty

“Now this week is Songs of the 21st Century. Tell me how Chris is going to sound ANY different than the last two weeks, although the themes are different. I bet you can’t, and therein lies the problem. ”

I’m still waiting for Chris Evans to answer this.

Ty

chantal: I don’t have a favorite, except that I care most about having a good final where I will enjoy the 2 hours of music.

Even though I have issues with Chris, my dream final is still Taylor vs. Chris, may the best man win.

My favorite woman is Katherine McPhee, but I don’t want to make top 3 for fear she might make it into the top 2, and we’ll have Bo vs. Carrie Round II (Girls will always beat guys in the finals), and it’s time a guy not named Pathetic Talentless Hack Ruben won.

I will, however, sleep easy when Paris leaves. She already has connections (her granny) and can get a record deal right now. AI is for those who can’t get a break, not people with grandma’s who Randy Jackson drools over (Remember the audition)

anon

bottom – line he stood there and simply smiled when the judges said – “you made it your own.” at that point – he could have interjected – oh, actually that verison is from one of my favorites…Live….. There was time to speak.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Okay, that doesn’t even make any sense. Last week’s “I Walk The Line” did NOT sound like “Higher Ground”. It doesn’t make sense to say that just because it sounds “rock” that it sounds the same. Okay…by your logic…every Green Day song sounds the same. Every RHCP song sounds the same. Every Aerosmith song sounds the same. Simply because they’re not different genres? C’mon now.

Ty

“I don’t care who wins as long as they win by talent not over praising a one note wonder and try to manipulate the votes.”

If the producers really cared about this, we would have no judges once voting began. Just sing and let America choose. But the reality is that the producers want certain people to be there for the whole ride, so the judges sit there and influence the vote. It’s pathetic, but it’s also typical Reality TV.

Big T Mackdaddy

How about the fact that Chris is a huge Eddie Vedor impersonator. He sounds good. He also sounds like ever other alt band out. I would like to see him win. I’d start an office pool on how long it will take him to leave that moose of a wife and 2 brats that aren’t his. Word.

anon

ok – me again – go to chris’ website (www.chrisdaughtryweb.com) – how about this paste-right fm the site – he is still taking the credit – no time for a quick edit – huh? ! :

WHAT DID HE SING? Each week the group is given an artist or genre from which to choose a song. This week, they were flown to Las Vegas to meet and rehearse songs from the 1950s with Barry Manilow. ?Chris knocked me out,? the legendary crooner said after Daughtry sang Johnny Cash’s ?I Walk the Line.? He rearranged the tune to fit his rock personality.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Dude…that isn’t Chris’ website. It’s just a random fansite.

Rich

People… take this into consideration. Humor me for one minute.
For the sake of argument:
Take the success of rock group Evanescence. Hard-Rock group with a classical(ish) lead vocal. They took a chance, and the lead vocal was THAT polished… that rock, pop or classical backing from the band was an afterthought. SHE made the songs soar with her vocals.

Aretha Franklin WOULD sing Sweet Home Alabama with a Gospel sound, but it wouldn’t be the arrangement of the song that allowed her to sound that way. Her VOCAL ABILITY would supercede the band because she’s just “that good”.

Evanescence they took a chance… and ripped off PORTISHEAD. No originality in that.

Alex

EITHER YOU ARE WITH AMERICA or WITH CHRIS!.

You decide!.

America do not like frauds and misleading people. Especially people who do not have the courage to admit and hide behind editing process. That is a …….you can’t go that low level. Chris be a man and accept the mistake. Even they edited out , you have the chance to tel the world that you made it based on LIVE when simon praising your arse. And also you could have told ryan?

You failed to do it. DO not blame it on eediting . That look more bad on you. That is not the excuse.

Admit it. America will forgive you. Or well it will never end even if you win AI or leave AI.

Tonight is your chance to be courageous and honest!.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Why would he step away from rock? Why would Reba McEntire step away from country? I just don’t see how this argument makes any sense.

Ty

“Why would he step away from rock?”

If AI wanted to test Chris, they would bring out a theme that Chris could not find a modern rock cover for…maybe Showtunes or Motown (both are themes used in previous seasons of AI).

Then what would he do? It would be interesting to say the least.

Rich

No, Reba wouldn’t step away from country, but she’s not on a contest where America’s looking for a versatile artist, now is she? She signed a contract with a COUNTRY LABEL…markets to a Country audience. AI markets to aspiring artists and music lovers of all genres.

And i never claimed Evanescence was Original. No one in music is original besides the one cat who thought it up one day. So please…save that argument for another topic. Besides, it was an example.

James Duggan

It’s ok Rich, I just like Portishead… i’m over myself now. Let’s come up with a list of extremely old songs that Chris could sing… I mean songs even older then anyone’s sang on the show… super old pre 1920’s.

Here’s mine

The Farmer in the Dell
These Boots are Made for Walking..

ah that’s all I got.

James Duggan

Well damn, apparently These Boots Were Made for walking was covered by KMFDM, AND Lil Kim, AND Jessica Simpson… and it wasn’t even released til 1960 something…

Rich

LOL…yea…hey I like Portishead too lol. Just didn’t hit me in the moment…

“No, Reba wouldn’t step away from country, but she’s not on a contest where America’s looking for a versatile artist, now is she? She signed a contract with a COUNTRY LABEL…markets to a Country audience. AI markets to aspiring artists and music lovers of all genres.”

Find me a “bylaw” somewhere in the “American Idol code” that says contestants need to be versatile and somehow sound like every genre they sing on the show? You won’t. America decided what and who they like…and apparently they like Chris Daughtry.

Rene

Whatever the case, I would much rather see that total fraud Kellie Pickler go before Chris. Why won’t someone post something about her fake ass. She makes me want to puke with that total fake act.

Paris can already get a record deal

Rene, Paris makes me want to puke because we ALL saw her audition when Randy Jackson was thrilled to meet her famous grandma, but Paris is still on AI when AI is a show for people who can’t get a break, not people with a grandma that can easily help you get Randy Jackson and a record deal.

Rene

To # 53.

I don’t really care for Paris either and I hope she’s voted off soon too. However, not for the same reason. In all fairness, she has as much right as anyone else to compete on the talent show even if it may be true that she has connections that could open doors for her. Her overtly polite demeanor works my last nerve. I think that’s fake too.

Carol

Clay Aiken NEVER quote “fell on his face”. “This is the Night” was a best-selling single, breaking records. He only had one problem on that dumb AI show all season when they changed an arrangement on him at the last minute and he missed some words when singing “Vincent”. But being the pro that he is, he waited and jumped back into the song at an appropriate time along with some glory notes and most didn’t even know it wasn’t supposed to be sung like that! What the heck are you talking about? Clay is and will always be the best!

DebbieE

Someone commented about Clay Aiken singing “Vincent.” He appeared to forget the words. There is an interview with him in which he stated that the judges made a last minute change and asked him to sing an extra verse. He actually didn’t come in at the right time and waited until he could come in. But, the problem was that they switched his song at the last minute, not that he “forgot the words.” If you don’t know much about Clay now, go to his next concert. It is a guaranteed excellent concert. He can sing ANY song as well or better than the original artists. He has stage presence and a great dynamic with the crowd. He is 1000 times better on stage than on his CDs. And, his CDs are great. If you actually enjoy hearing the words to a song, hearing a melody that is pleasant, hearing a rocking good version of a cover song, or listening to lyrics which are romantic, thoughtful, and uplifting, then Clay Aiken is worth checking out. If you enjoy cursing, vulgar moves, cheap sex talk, inane head-banging “music” then you won’t enjoy him. He would never bother with that kind of music since it isn’t family friendly.

Gina

wow i cannot believe the trash being said on this blog…why do people have a problem with chris being who he is? the last time i checked, last years AMERICAN IDOl has turned into a country star rather then the assumed American Idol, why is she not bashed for that, and why was Bo not bashed last season….people just need something to talk about because the other celebrities are on the down low…give the guy a break, at least he knows who he is and who he wants to be….what is the themes were reversed and the rest of the cast had to go hard rock, would they do it or would they change it up to fit there style? can you picture pickler singing a rock song like Its My Life or Walk This Way,

come on people lighten up

Mandy

WOW, what awful comments on this page! A lot of people are attacking Chris Daughtry’s character as though he’d done something horrible to a whole lot of you. From what I understand, he certainly doesn’t deserve this.

I must say that Chris DID make “I Walk The Line” his very own. Of course, the rhythm and all was similar to Live’s version–but listen to the singing! The force behind it as well as the delivery of the lines. Amazing! The fact of the matter is that he did a great job singing it.

Also, it’s confirmed that it was an edit that prevented America from knowing at first that Chris had credited Live. Someone mentioned that he had a chance to “correct” it by telling Ryan or Simon off the bat that he had been inspired by Live’s version. I must say that originality is open to discussion here! Listening to Live’s version as well as the original Johnny Cash’s, Chris still did a wonderful job that made the song HIS. I loved the way he’d interpreted it.

People with such amazingly HARSH comments ought to back off. Chris Daughtry obviously is a great singer and it certainly seems like a great person. I feel so awful that such a nice guy and his wife and family, who should be nothing but HAPPY at the moment, have to put up with so much of this crap.

I’ll admit I’m a Chris fan. You don’t see me going and saying bad things about other contestants every time the judges give them compliments!

Bottom line is, the song sounded GREAT. Chris Daughtry is an amazing singer. PERIOD.

Jake

“Chris Evans said:

March 28, 2006, 01:45 PM
Uhh…you all might want to check your album booklets again, because Clay Aiken DID NOT write “This Is The Night” It was written by Aldo Nova, Gary Burr, and Chris Braide.

However, upon further research I realized that I was mistaken, and Clay did not sing an original song on the show. ”

To Chris Evans,

Just to clarify. Clay DID sing an original song on the finale of AI2. This Is The Night was written FOR him and therefore it was the only song that season that was NOT a cover. Nobody claimed that Clay wrote it, only that it was an original song and that it sold very well.

Thanks for clearing up the other error as well.

Jake

One more thing. I feel that Chris has a very good shot at winning AI this season. I also think that Chris’s family and friends had better develop a very thick skin and fast. The music biz is a dirty biz and tabloids are a part of the package. See Aiken, Clay for what they can do to you if they want to. Like George Clooney said recently, “I like to check the rags each morning to find out what I didn’t do or say yesterday.”

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Thanks, Jake. That’s probably why I got confused–I remembered them saying SOMETHING about it being original, so I must’ve thought that meant Clay wrote it.

candice

“So why, then, is Chris Daughtry being punished by bloggers, magazines, and newspapers for simply picking a version of the song that best fit his style of singing, doing it damn well, and, in my opinion, better than the original artist (Live, not Cash)?”

I know it’s your opinion, Chris Evans, but as someone who owns Live albums and has followed them since their 1991 release of Mental Jewelry and seen them perform live, I would like to disagree and say that Ed Kowalczyk is far better than Chris Daughtry in the vocal department. Of course, Chris Daughtry might develop into quite a singer given time, and of course, perhaps you have also been keenly aware of Live since their emergence in the early 90s, in which case I would agree to disagree with you. But if the only Live song that you have heard is their cover of “I Walk the Line,” then I must question the strength of your opinion.

Jane

No one has said that Clay wrote TITN! It was an original song that, BTW, the judges didn’t like. At that point, everyone should have known that Clay would not be allowed to win even had he sung all parts, in harmony, of the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus! Why does anyone take AI (choose a year) seriously?

Jane

Jake your #60 remarks are right on! The music business is dirty and nice guys take a big chance by trying to carve a career there!

sal m

back on topic….last night chris just screamed through another copy cat version of a song…no appeal or anything interesting about the performance, and the judges said the same thing.

it’s not an issue of if his voice is good for recording or for singing that kind of music – which it clearly is – but whether or not he can win this competition singing strictly this kind of music.

if he continues this way, he’ll leave earlier than later, and earlier than many people thought would be possible.

Ty

“it’s not an issue of if his voice is good for recording or for singing that kind of music – which it clearly is – but whether or not he can win this competition singing strictly this kind of music.”

Anybody remember the failed experiment that was World Idol?

It was dumb, but there was one thing to notice: The Belgian Idol was a pure rocker a la Chris. If you watched the show, you would have noticed that he had to show a different non-rocker side and pulled it off. The people of Belgium picked a rocker, why not America?

Just a thought…

Big T Mack Daddy

Thanks Ty. I’ve been waiting all day to read something totally irrelevant. Do me a favor and hold your breath until you pass out.

do you honestly want to know why Simon and Randy didnt like chris’ performance last night? well the negative remarks are to try and sheild themselves from the media…how can chris go from getting brilliant remarks to mean remarks from them? the performance was his own as were the others, its just a matter of saving their own behinds to not seem like fools and to feed the media frenzy..give the guy a break, he is who he is and he seems to be the only one who knows who he is cause i cant say much about the other contestants knowing who they are.

Mandy

I agree with Gina! Not that many of the contestants got great remarks yesterday, anyway!

Ed

Alright, I’m a Chris fan, and yes, Chris did have an opportunity to correct the judges, but it’s hard to do so when the judges can barely talk because the fans are so loud. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t quite think it’s right that somebody didn’t say something, and that they waited until last night to bring up the subject, rather than on the Results show last week.

That being said, it’s possible that this was “mis”handled in the way that it was because one of the high-ups wants Chris off the show. There could be a number of reasons why, so I won’t even begin to speculate. And what does it say of the judges, who are supposed to be experts at this.

One of the things that really burned me last night was the fact that last week, Simon praised Chris for not compromising, and this week, he bashes him for it. There’s something that’s not quite right about that. I don’t know if Simon is just trying to cover his own and take the focus off of him and Randy for not knowing that it had been redone by Live or what. It doesn’t make sense.

All I know is that Chris is an amazing vocalist, and I will buy his cd and pay to see him in concert.

Ann

CLAY AIKEN is definitely NOT gay and does not have to address anything; he has class. Clay did not forget the lyrics to the song “Vincent” on purpose. The AI producers gave him extra lines to the song in the spare of the moment so he could mess it up because the AI producers did not want him to win the title. AI is rigged. CLAY AIKEN should have won. Clay Aiken is my favorite male singer and male entertainer. Clay Aiken is the greatest and the best male musical artist ever!!! Clay Aiken Rules!!!

Fragenstein

I am disgusted with each one of u who say that Chris copied Live blindly. if u hear the Live version u will see that it is much softer and only the first 30 seconds are identical. the ending is all Chris.
Also he gave credit to the chilli Peppers in his interview. Probably did so with Live. jeez they cut an hour long interview to 15 seconds. And Chris’ version was way better. So stop trying to trash Chris. It won’t work. The man is a great singer . A bit more than i can say for most of you

Julie

I’m going to have to agree with Ed #71. Chris has got what it takes and hes not affraid to do what he wants. He has his own idea s and that makes him , Chris . Hes the sexiest man for the yr 2006 and I hope to see him in concert and in the music stores .

http://www.taylorhicksblues.blogspot.com Jewels

Chris “Creed” Daughtry rides again. I have to admit though I he does have a great sound, and looks awfully purdy, but, it ’twas the same ol’ same ol’.

I will recind my harshness (#15) regarding his not admitting that his last weeks’ “Walk the Line” performance wasn’t an original version. In his scripted ‘casual converstion’ with Seacrest, he did allow that he was influenced by “Live”.

Rich

SLIGHTLY off topic, but…

Am I the only person who didn’t think Simon was being completely “positive” when he said Chris was unwilling to comprimise? I thought the audience’s reaction is what made it seem like one, but I wouldn’t take that as a compliement. Especially from Simon!!

johnny

you are all crazy

Lilly

I want to meet this girl that wrote this. She is so intelligant. Chris did it as his own. America shut up! He did it his own. It rocked. I loved. My mother even loved it and she is a 50’a 60’a music lover. She also loves Jonny Cash. Keep Chris on the show and maybe just maybe he will change your life for once. Chris could do something to help you so why don’t you do something that will help him! Vote for Chris! The best one on American Idol.

http://breathoffreshink.com Chris Evans

Well I actually wrote this…and incidentally I’m a guy. Sorry to disappoint.

http://gratefuldread.net NR Davis

Because I vote once and only once and I vote for the person I believe is best and therefore must vote for Taylor.

claymate5230

In response to Clay Aiken gay allegations:
Clay Aiken is NOT gay. How can someone with that much sex appeal be gay? Do hear that *thud* sound? That’s the sound of women all around the world as they hit the floor due to Clay’s thudworthiness! Go to one of his concerts! Testosterone is in the air people!

Personally, I believe that the questions regarding his “amibiguous” sexuality is just a lame attempt to bash Clay. People who do so are bored with their own pathetic lives and they feel the need to feed off the lives of other people to get by.

And that’s just sad.

Da Troof

I heard from an inside source that Clay Aiken has AIDS.

Lena

Da Troo: I’ve heard from an inside source that you’re looking for negative attention because you can’t get any other.

That said, I think that Jake’s post (#60) sums it all the best. The reality is that if you’re in the public eye, you’re a fair game. And as much as many of us hate it, it goes with the territory. We all need a thicker skin.

Which brings me to the original article by Chris Evans. Chris, no one likes to see their favorites being unfairly criticized. Think about it.

Halle

I think people should vote for Chris because he can sing and he is hot!!!That’s what i call an IDOL!!!

Halle

I think people should vote for Chris because he can sing and he is hot!!!That’s what i call an IDOL!!!

Jeff

despite it not being “his” own arrangement, it still was pretty good. Chris can definetely sing. However, I do have a problem for not giving credit to Live (assuming, in fact, he didn’t). It clearly was influenced by their version, and Chris has stated that Live is one of his favorite bands (mine too).

to the gentleman that wrote this article..Live not terribly popular? perhaps you were too young in the mid 90’s when Live was one of the biggest selling acts in the country. Their second album, Throwing Copper, is one of the defining records of the decade. Almost anyone who was in college then has a copy of it. They’ve continued to make very good records and, as recent as a couple of years ago, had a pretty sizeable rock hit, “Heaven”.

Simon Cowell admitted during an interview that Chris was the best vocalist in the competition. I value his opinion more than anyone who says otherwise

Samantha

I agree with this arcticle because the judges are ALWAYS saying that the contestants need to bring their own style into the songs that they sing, and when they finally get someone who does that they get criticized and put in magazines and news arcticles! Chris always worked hard. Eventhough he did sing in a little bit of a different style as everyone else it doesnt mean that he worked any less. Chris had a rocker voice and thats just how it sounded no matter what song her sang! People need to get all the facts and think about things before they criticize and say things that shouldnt be said!

http://xanga.com/b0gdana BJ

I would just like to point out that Chris Daughtry is and always will be a hack who copies people, because “Its not over” is just a remake of “Hemorrhage” with new lyrics in its most basic form. Its sad that he’s so unoriginal. He’s cute and that’s about all he’s got that’s original.

John

daughtry is so bad, he doesnt deserve to have all the fame he does, if you take a look at even all the original songs he’s done they arent even original he stole all his stuff from other artists and doesnt give it any credit and the only reason he’s famous is because of all the 14 year old girls who think he’s so hot, so imo he’s an overrated hack who will be forgotten in the anals of time.